Papon - Angaraag Mahanta

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Papon’s Initiatives for Music and Its Promotion

India has been the worldwide source of art, tradition, customs, and culture for the universe. No other country is as rich as India if the enriched and adorable culture aspects of the world are studied systematically. Art of India is not only unique but also, it is identified with a diverse variety that underlines the identity of India as unity in diversity. Each state of India is associated with different cultural patterns, aspects, and arts and these are followed and promoted to enrich our every next generation. This propagation and promotion have resulted in the preservation of our heritage in the form of our culture and art. Music, one of the types of performing art is also not an exception for this type of generation to generation propagation. Each state of India has its own identity of music culture and this art is preserved among different generations by value additions in it through every generation.

 Assam is one of the important Indian states in Northeast India. Whenever we think about Assam, few things easily pop up in our mind, which includes gorgeous tea farms, Brahmaputra river, Bharat Ratna Late Bhupen Hazarika and the last but not the least, the famous singer Papon. Assamese music and folk songs have been always close to art lovers. Bollywood singer Papon who is originally from Assam has the plans to take the Assamese music worldwide and he desires that Guwahati should be the music capital of Northeastern India. He believes that Assam and Guwahati both have great music heritage, and culture, therefore, Guwahati deserves to be the musical capital of Northeast India. He also underlines a very important point that Guwahati is not privileged to organise or host musical fests yet. He believes that if these types of cultural initiatives are undertaken in the city and the state, it will promote the cultural aspects and movement in the state.

 Singer Papon has a great reputation in Bollywood with his successful songs from the films Barfi, Raid, and Sanju. He belongs to the family where the music has been always paramount because of his father Late Khagen Mahanta who also contributed largely to Assamese folk music. Papon believes that Assamese music has been always a great experience and he wishes to spread this music to the world with an international reputation. Papon wants to pay tribute to his dad by promoting Assamese music worldwide as his father, Late Khagen Mahanta contributed a lot to the folk and traditional music of Assam. Papon has given a substantial contribution to Indian music by singing in many languages. His bucket list also includes a plan of opening a performing arts school to promote music and cultural activities.

 The multi-talented singer has another dimension with his writing skills and has been offered an opportunity to write about his journey. But he thinks that he is still at the midway and many things need to be accomplished and achieved in the future, although, he has a great reputation in the Assamese music area, but his Bollywood career is still evolving. His connection and affinity for Assam is always reflected with his contributions towards the homeland. His Namami Brahmaputra anthem and his charity for Assam flood relief funds prove his tremendous love for Assam. He represents the music and cultural aspect of the state. Optimistically, he should get success in his every plan, including getting more recognition for Assamese music and to make Guwahati, the musical capital of Northeast. We also wish that his dream of own performing art school gets fulfilled to promote Assamese music and other arts to the future generation. If every artist could contribute to the promotion of their arts in this manner, it will play a great role in retaining that art.

 #papon #music #singer #Scams #news #Controversy #Bollywood #India #musician #kiss

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Papon’s Plan to bring glory to Ghazals

Music is one of the performing arts and it is most enriched in India with a variety of singers and singing styles, musical instruments, etc. The music is the most touching form of art and language is not the barrier for the enjoyment and understanding of this art. In India, music is enjoyed and learned in different patterns, styles and dedicated singers and composers are contributing to these different styles. One of the classical types of music is Ghazal and there is a range of Indian singers and composers who have contributed a lot for this classical music type Ghazal. Despite the love of the young generation for loud music, Ghazal has been always popular and will remain closed to the Indian music lovers.

When young talent from music gets fascinated and attracted towards this classical musical style, it assures the glory for this music style with a modern touch. Young and talented singer, composer Papon recently expressed his views on the classical music type Ghazal. Papon is basically from Assam and his father largely contributed to Assamese folk music. Papon who also has contributed a lot to the Assamese music, has achieved a great reputation in Bollywood as a playback singer for many of his successful songs including Sanju, Raid, and Barfi songs. Papon is always identified for his unique and different style of singing. He believes that Ghazals can be presented in a contemporary way and you can enjoy this magnificent music style. Papon performed favourite Ghazals for Royal Stag Barrel Select MTV unplugged, actually other singers prefer popular Bollywood songs for this program, but Papon believes that youth loves Ghazal because it is all about a musical story with shades of love and many more emotions. He further believes that to assure glory to this music pattern, it needs to be presented in a contemporary manner.

  Ghazals are composed in Urdu which sometimes becomes difficult for him as he belongs to Assam where the Hindi language is hardly used. Understanding lyrics become very difficult for him but he thinks that Urdu words are very soft and musical, and those soft lyrics cross the limitations of the language barrier. In one program, he paid tribute to his all-time favourite ghazal singer Jagjit Singh. Being a fan of the legendary ghazal singer, Jagjit Singh, since childhood, Papon used to practice his Ghazals when he was just 10. Papon also adds that people understand Jagjit Singh only for his Sarfarosh and other popular Bollywood Ghazals but that is just the tip of the iceberg, the actual understanding of Jagjit Singh, his ghazals is not very easy.

  Papon has been the die-hard fan of Mr. Jagjit Singh from his childhood and he shares the same feelings for him till date. According to him, Mr. Jagjit Singh’s Ghazal is a mesmerizing experience that can transform a listener into a different mind space. He shared the compliment he received on Jagjit Singh’s tribute function. One elderly lady and the close friend of Chitra Singh appreciated Papon when he paid tribute to Jagjit Singh with a Ghazal. That complement— “You are the chosen one and you will revive his ghazals” is constantly inspiring him.

  Papon also appreciates the style of Jagjit Singh with more accessibility and modern touch. Sometimes Jagjit Singh's Ghazal is also criticized as the diluted one, but Papon firmly presents that in his case less is really more, and Mr. Jagjit Singh’s Ghazal is everything about the feelings, story, emotions which ultimately result in goosebumps.

  Papon has been identified for his musical experiments and his love for music. Hopefully, his love for the Ghazal music type will bring back the glory to the music style again. His thought process to present Ghazals in a contemporary manner will win the attraction of youth, need to be reworked by music lovers and artists. Ghazal has been the most melodic music style for many centuries. Experiment oriented, young and talented singer Papon’s opinion and thought process to assure glory back to Ghazal music style is definitely promising and we wish that he will get the success in his all ventures.

  #papon #music #singer #Scams #news #Controversy #Bollywood #India #musician

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Papon on Ori-Plast Originals- Bengal’s Biggest Musical Collaboration

India is a land of great diversity. Over thousands of years, geographical, historical and religious influences have weaved the colourful fabric of Indian culture, one of the oldest known to humanity. The diversity is reflected in the 17 major languages and 900 dialects. Traditions, rituals, art, music and dance, drama, literature, movies, recreation, sports and cuisine all have their distinct flavours depending on the region of the country.

One region in India that has a rich musical heritage and has produced many renowned musicians is the state of West Bengal. It is well known for its rich art and culture as well as the intellectual aura of its people. Music, more than an art, is a passion for Bengalis. More than a millennium old, Bengali music has become diverse with so many varieties within. The variety is such that once you get familiar with it, you will not need to look beyond it. From classical to rock, folk to devotional, you will get almost every possible music form in Bangla Sangeet. Then, there is the display of a wide range of emotions - be it love, sadness, anxiety, motivation, devotion or spirituality.

Being one of the music hubs of the country, it is a given that Bengal hosts many musical events too. One such upcoming event is SVF Music’s ‘Ori-Plast Originals’ which is claimed to be the state’s biggest musical collaboration. Many well-known and famous singers from Bollywood have been invited to collaborate for their YouTube channel, some of the biggies in the list include Papon, Shaan, Shalmali Kholgade, Sona Mohapatra and Arko Pravo Mukherjee. The official logo of the show was released recently on the World Music Day and the singers are ready to take the stage by fire in the month of July.

Papon happens to have a huge fan following in Bengal and is people’s absolute favourite. The singer had earlier, in an interview with a popular news channel, expressed the desire to experiment more with Bengali music and Baul (the folk music of Bengal) happens to be on his wish list for a really long time now. With this venture, the singer hopes to explore this particular genre too. In the past, the singer has spent a few years of his life living in Bengal and he holds this beautiful state as well as its people with great regards. He has performed a number of concerts in Kolkata and has also sung many regional songs.

We are more than excited to see what Papon has in store for us this time around since the singer is believed to get something new to the table every single time!

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Papon Receives Invitation to Speak at Music Inc 2.0

In today’s extremely competitive world, a lot goes into promoting yourself online and too many artists forget about the fact that this alone will not get you to where you want to go. Music conferences are invaluable when looking to learn and to grow in the industry. There are so many types to choose from depending on what kind of thing you like – small and intimate, huge and overwhelming, hyper-focused or more general. No matter which one you decide to attend events you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself with networking, meeting established professionals and making connections with other artists all who can be vital to your growth. 

Ones such prominent music conference in the country is ‘Music Inc’. From composers, musicians, distributors and music producers to entrepreneurs, CEOs, tech experts, marketers and advertisers- many stalwarts of the music business come together at the two-day music conference which will be held at J.W. Marriott, Mumbai. Music Inc. aims to initiate conversations supporting the growth of the music business. This event happens to be India’s largest music business marketplace and serves as a forum to address the key opportunities uniquely. The theme of the conference this year is ‘Music at the intersections’ and it aims at creating intersections between agencies, brands, technology, industries and the music business. The event will also focus on creating sustainable revenue streams for the music industry.

The second edition of the event labelled ‘Music Inc 2.0’ will be held this year and will have the likes of many award-winning singers, music producers as well as other artists from the music industry. One prominent face present at the event will be that of famous Assamese folk sensation and a singer loved by many- Papon. India’s largest music business community, Loudest.in, which is set to curate the event recently tweeted on their official Twitter handle,” We are excited to announce Papon as one of the guest speakers at Music Inc 2.0 #DidYouKnow Angaraag Mahanta, popularly known as Papon, is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer and a live performer.”

Papon recently confirmed that he will be speaking at the event. His journey to fame and becoming the person that he is today; has been a complete rollercoaster ride and he is extremely excited to share his personal experiences with other like-minded individuals at the event. A lot of close friends and acquaintances of the singer also took to Twitter in order to share their excitement regarding the same- famous singer Manasi Scott tweeted,” Super stuff!! He is one of the uniquest and what a journey he has to share!! @paponmusic you’ve come a long and glorious way from our first jam!! Rock on!!” Papon further acknowledged her tweet saying that time certainly flies and hoping to jam with her soon.

The two-day long event is set to begin on World Music Day, that is 21st June 2019. We surely wouldn’t want to miss out on this wonderful opportunity of getting to know our favourite singer closely, how about you?

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Papon’s Har Lamhaa- A Romantic Song like no other

Every person has got one, or maybe dozens- a cherished love song- the first dance at the wedding, the one they slow-danced to in the arms of their crush, the one for unrequited love, the one for the one who got away or simply, the breakup song. There’s an anthem for every romantic relationship that lasts until death does the lovers apart, or at least until it goes on the rocks. Nobody seems to be sure as to how many love songs there actually are, but one thing is for sure- we love to love our love songs.

One such love song that recently came out and has taken the internet by storm is ‘Har Lamhaa’ sung by none other than the singer who has greatly contributed in making this genre a hit amongst the youth in India- Angarag Mahanta, commonly known as Papon. This sad romantic single was published on 20th June 2019. In a mere span of five days since its release, it has managed to bag more than 26,00,000 views and 32,000 likes. The track released on Indie Music Label’s official YouTube channel. The music video of the song features Dev Sharma and Neha Khan as a couple who are deeply in love. Tragedy befalls upon the couple and destiny has other plans for them. The lyrics of the song beautifully describe their situation and longing to be together again.There are also a few sections where Papon blends in a more classical vocal style.

In a recent interview, Papon was quoted saying,” I'm glad that I had the opportunity to sing a track like ‘Har lamhaa'. The entire team has worked very hard on the song and we are very satisfied with the end result. Independent music has been growing rapidly of late and platforms like Indie Music Label are a real boost to the indie space.” Naushad Khan, who happens to be the Managing Director of Indie Music Label was also quoted saying,” We had been planning ‘Har lamhaa' with Papon for a while now. He's such a fantastic artist and his songs have the rare quality of touching the listeners' heart. "With ‘Har lamhaa', we are very confident about the track and are rest assured that people will give it all the love it deserves.”

Time and again, Papon has proved that he is one of India’s finest independent singers. He puts all his heart and soul into his songs and that certainly appeals to the music- lover masses. His voice has an unusual texture that makes each of his songs unique. His strong classical background goes unnoticed in his compositions because of the way in which he plays with music in a highly confident and graceful manner.

The singer’s fans have loved the song more than anything and some people even went on to call the singer a living legend. This can easily be seen in the ‘Comments’ section of the official video. People just can’t seem to get tired of praising the singer for being a powerhouse of talent. Such is the vibe that Papon creates. He is our favourite too for a reason, after all!

 #papon #music #singer #Scams #news #Controversy #Bollywood #India

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“Assam is a Vibrant Place”- Papon

We live in an era where a lot of young people are moving to other cities or countries altogether in order to pursue their studies, move ahead in the careers of their choice or simply run their businesses. But it can be rightly said that despite this, their hearts are firmly placed in their respective home towns or villages. Rightly so, it’s the one place where you don’t need to put any extra effort to fit in. You just know that you belong there- be it the way of life, the dialect or the regular humdrum of everyday chaos that put you at ease and give you peace of mind.

One such famous personality who has been extremely vocal about his love for his hometown and is putting in as much effort to get it the exposure it deserves is none other than Papon. Born as Angaraag Mahanta, Papon had established himself as an independent musician much before Bollywood happened to him.In August 2016, a documentary series, Hometown Heroes, which chronicles the 40-year-old singer-composer’s life in his hometown, Guwahati (Assam) was released. Thereafter, in an impromptu interview, Papon spoke about his music, his religious beliefs and his love for his hometown.

On being asked by the journalist as to how Assam has helped shape him and his music, Papon readily said,” I had a beautiful childhood. What I am doing today is exactly what I was doing when I was really young. Assam is a vibrant place because there are so many tribes and ethnic groups there. I am an indigenous person only because I come from a land like that. Everyone comes from a religious background; we are supposedly born into one. I was born into one called Neo-Vaishavism under the tutelage of Sankardev, a large part of which is music. Similarly, every religion has a form of music associated with it — qawwalis, Sufi songs, hymns, gospels, kirtans and bhajan. In my religion, we had interesting ragas and talas, which is different from Carnatic or Hindustani music. The upbringing in such a family made my musical side stronger.”

Papon further added that he sometimes feels it's a good thing that talent from Assam is yet to come to the forefront because it isn't random or usual and this helps it remain fresh and exotic. He also said that Assam definitely deserves more attention with regards to the music and culture that exists there. "It’s a corner of the world geographically. It’s almost the dead-end of the world, so it takes time to come to the mainstream. That’s what I am trying to do with my work — bring it in front of the world”, the singer added.

Papon has also been quite vocal about the floods that cause major destruction in Assam year after year. On being questioned by the journalist regarding the same, he said,”It’s a beautiful place and a lot of human, animal, plant life is at stake because of the floods. Perhaps there are too many differences between the central and state government, but we should think of a long-term solution to not go through this every year.”

Papon is one artist who has held his hometown with the greatest regard and gotten Assam and its culture the recognition that it deserves. Every time we look at him, we only wonder how magnificent this state must be to have given us artists like him!

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Papon at AMISTAD 2019

Nowadays, a number of colleges have come up with the concept of introducing cultural activities in their curriculum. These activities play an important role in helping the students identify themselves, strengthening their personal skills and preparing them for the real world. As social and cultural activities are of paramount importance, the University encourages all extra-curricular activities that are both in line with the educational objectives of the institution and meet the needs of the students. Students participate in arts and culture at varying levels of skill and engagement. Some create, while others listen to, watch, teach, critique, or learn a cultural activity, art form, or expression.

Live performances and concerts during annual college festivals have been one popular form of cultural activities that are being practised these days. One such annual college fest called ‘AMISTAD’ was held in February 2019 at Lucknow’s Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental & Medical Sciences (S.P.P.G.I.D.M.S). The college happens to be a renowned one in Lucknow and has a history of producing immense talent. At S.P.P.G.I.D.M.S., it is believed that cultural activities not only serve as an instrument to develop all facets of a student’s personality but also promote confidence in them. “AMISTAD” - an Intercollege Dental Students Festival, comprising of Literary, Sports and Cultural events is one such initiative.

The main highlight of AMISTAD 2019, however, was- famous Assamese folk singer and our beloved- Papon's performance. The event concluded with much fanfare. The night before the final day dazzled with the singer and his band’s performance as they set the stage on fire and left the audiences completely speechless with their phenomenal performance. Papon’s soulful songs left people across all age groups in the crowd mesmerized. The singer performed a number of his popular Bollywood numbers such as ‘Moh Moh Ke Dhaage’ and ‘Kyun’ which left the audiences asking for more. The performance ended with a beautiful Bihu song during which Papon greatly interacted with the crowd, explaining the meaning of each line to them and engaging them to get everybody in the mood. A few students from the crowd joined him on the stage too.

After the singer’s power-packed performance ended, he was felicitated in the traditional Assamese way by secretory Sr. Snehlata Singh by honouring him with a stole and memento. According to various onlookers, Papon loved performing at the event and was overwhelmed with the warmth of the people there. Later, in an interview with Hindustan Times, Papon was quoted saying,” Lot of my listeners may not know Assamese or Bangla but if the music has honestly you get the feel. That’s the beauty of music and keeps me connected with people all across India.”

Papon has always had a special place in his heart for the city of Lucknow and its people since his wife- Shweta, belongs to Lucknow. He further told the journalist,” Fortunately, my Sasural at Eldeco Greens is close where I am staying. It has been 15 years that I married a Lucknowite. So, I feel a special connect with the city. Strangely, compared to other cities I had lesser shows here. But, in four months this is my second show, so hope to come here more and more for work.”

We are sure that this singer is here to stay and revolutionize the way in which people look at regional and folk music. His charm is simply unmatchable and we just can’t seem to have enough of his music, how about you’ll?

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Papon Mourns Girish Karnad’s Death

“People you love, never really die.”- so it was said, many years ago. Maybe it is the truth. They don’t die. Not completely. They live on in one’s mind, the memories, the way they always lived inside you. You keep their light alive and if you remember them well enough, they can still guide you, like the fading light from long-extinguished stars still guide ships in unfamiliar waters.

One such notable actor, playwright and writer who was loved as well as respected by many in the industry and who acted as a guiding light in many people’s lives, was Girish Karnad. He passed away in Bengaluru on Monday, aged 81. Karnad has written numerous plays in Kannada and is considered one of Kannada literature's foremost playwrights. He has conferred the prestigious ‘Padma Shri' award in 1974 and the Indian Government awarded him with the ‘Padma Bhushan' in 1992 as a token of recognition for his contributions to the arts. In 1999, he was also the recipient of the Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary prize, for his contributions to theatre and literature. Outside of his work on stage and on screen, he was an active voice against violence faced by writers and journalists in India. 

Girish Karnad’s death came as a huge blow to the Hindi and South film industries that shall always remain indebted to his multilingual work. Papon, one of the most versatile and sought-after singers in Bollywood today, was extremely saddened by the sudden demise of the actor. Soon after the latter’s death, the singer took to Twitter to express his grief, he wrote,” Don’t see the point writing personal feelings on twitter but just couldn’t stop myself to tell the world that today I again feel #Loss in a true sense! One actor we all loved and respected is no more #GirishKarnad a person I connected at various levels. Praying for his soul.”

Papon truly believes that Girish Karnad was one of the finest Bollywood has ever had. He considers himself lucky for getting a chance to know the late actor personally and having interacted with him personally at many levels. Papon has deep respect for the actor and in a recent interview, he said that Karnad will live with him forever in his thoughts. He also said that he has observed the actor for a long time now and has gotten to learn many things from him. According to the singer, Girish Karnad has inspired many lives with his work ethics as well as morals and was one of the strongest people he has known.

In an industry where people are commonly considered insensitive towards others and bonds are only known to live for as long as the person’s selfish needs, Papon has truly proved that there is no feeling greater to love. The singer is not only known to stand firmly by his friends during their times of need but also remember the people who touched his life till the very end of time. Such is our beloved Papon. We really hope that there are more pure souls like him, especially now more than ever, since the world is in dire need of them.

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Papon is all set to Judge Maruti Suzuki Colors of Youth

Each one of us is heavenly gifted in a unique way and it is this innate ability or aptitude that makes you stand apart from others by making you more confident, successful and happy. Your talents also help you uncover the important objects of life while making you feel in all affairs that you deal with, on a daily basis. To be precise, God-given abilities, aptitudes or talents that you possess, make the greatest difference in your life, providing you acknowledge them and try to extract the most out of them for yourself as well as for others.

Today, there are various platforms- big and small- that greatly help the youth in getting the exposure and recognition they deserve. As you would perhaps be aware, “Colors of Youth”– one such unique path breaking initiative by Maruti Suzuki, is a National College Challenge in which students from top colleges across India match their wits against each other to showcase their versatile personality and well-rounded talent. As the name itself suggests, the event aims at tapping the various colours (talents) the millennials have and extends a platform to them in order to showcase their hidden qualities and creative genius before the world.

The talent in this show ranges from singing, music, dancing, rapping, stand-up comedy, beatboxing, speed painting, car graphics, technological innovation, etc. The show, currently in its 8th season, has risen in popularity and success with every new season, thus becoming a much sought-after platform for students who are raring to showcase their potential & versatility. The event, in its previous 7 seasons, witnessed a coveted panel of judges who happen to be the very best in the industry- Diana Hayden, Benny Dayal, Lauren Gotlieb, and Nikhil Chinappa- to name a few. Colors of Youth- season 8 is poised to be bigger and better than ever before with the enigmatic Papon, the versatile Monali Thakur, the beautiful Loren Gotlieb and the very charming Salman Yusuf as the mentors who would be judging the contestants on their creative talent.

Papon has been known to be a promoter of fresh talent for years now. He has set an excellent example in the independent music scene with absolutely no backing and pure hard work that got him where he is today. The singer, who himself rose to fame through a singing reality show- Coke Studio, strongly believes that each one of us needs that certain push in life to get out of our comfort zone and show the world what we really have, especially the youth. He is an active supporter of talent shows according to him, each one of us possesses at least one special talent that is different from everybody else. Papon believes that ‘MS Colors of Youth’ is one platform where the bar of talent is only being raised with time. Hence, on being approached by the channel, he readily accepted the opportunity of becoming a judge on the show.

We really hope there are more people like Papon in the industry because ‘a chance’ is the only thing many people seek but never end up getting. Kudos to this man!

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Papon at the Udaipur World Music Festival

The arts and culture- just as the sciences- are among the most rapidly changing fields in society today. For the very simple reason that they are driven by artists who observe the status of societal developments and present their reflections to the public which leads to new as well as renewed knowledge. Artists, through their artistic creations, and intellectuals, through their elaborations, have always been raising their voices on the cultural front such as folk and classical music as well as values leading to freedom, justice, peace and democracy. Hence, it is equally important to celebrate their existence and contributions to society as a whole.

Music festivals not only encourage new and upcoming artists but also celebrate the established names in the industry who are known to get something new to the table every single time. The very ambience of a music festival sparks a light within anyone attending. The immense energy pulsating through the crowd is an absolutely addicting rush that unites every single person present there with the artist.

The Udaipur World Music festival is one such cultural event that brings prominent artists across the world under one roof. It is held every year during the month of February at the city of Udaipur in Rajasthan, India. The festival features a number of live performances by international as well as Indian artists and attracts a huge crowd. The first edition of this festival, which also happens to be India’s first World Music Festival, was held on 13th February 2016 and included global artists and ensembles from more than 12 countries including Ghana, Spain, Venezuela, France, Italy as well as India itself.

In 2016, among the many well-known public figures and incredibly talented artists present at the event, was none other than our Assamese folk sensation and the man who made Bihu music popular at an international level himself- Papon. While the evening session Jazz Fusion and Family Atlantica performing Afro Beat Venezuelan Cumbia, the crowd eagerly awaited Papon’s much talked about performance. Extremely popular among the youngsters, Papon not only sang his popular Bollywood songs- ‘Kyun' and ‘Jeena' but also used some extremely interesting tricks in order to bridge the gap between him and the audience.

Keeping in mind the entire gist of the Udaipur World Music Festival in mind, the singer, who has a huge fan following in his home state of Assam, belted out some of his well-known Assamese compositions. While the crowd happily swayed and danced to his peppy folk songs, they further urged him to perform his Bollywood numbers too. His gig that started with his famous Assamese song ‘Dinae Dinae’, was followed by Punjabi song ‘Suraj Nu Mildi Saver’, ‘Moh Moh Ke Dhaage’ and many other melodious tracks.

Papon has always been known as a performer and not just a singer. This was just another event where he proved that music does not need any language to be appreciated, it is rather a feeling that crosses all boundaries and unites people. If we have more artists like Papon in our country, India will surely receive even more recognition for its rich culture and incredible music.

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Papon at the International Film Festival of India 2017- Goa

The film industry brings life, culture and art to our eager eyes. It has given us so many emotions and beautiful storylines as well as songs to cherish since its inception. The only time that we, as an audience, can give it something back is through our active involvement in events that celebrate this industry- such as film festivals. Film festivals are a vital link in the chain of global film culture. Such festivals encourage and create a dialogue between people reaching out to not just the regional but an international audience.

The International Film Festival of India (IFFI), founded in 1952, is one of the most significant film festivals in all of Asia. The festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excellence of the film art; contributing to the understanding and appreciation of film cultures of different nations in the context of their social and cultural ethos, and promoting friendship and cooperation among people of the world. In 2017, the 48th edition of the IFFI which was organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Government in collaboration with the Government of Goa was concluded in the presence of some greatly renowned and distinguished celebrities such as Shri. Amitabh Bachchan Ji. The highlight of the event, however, was our very own Papon’s performance.

The closing ceremony held on the final day began with Papon’s performance and he completely rocked it by including not only his Bollywood hits but a few of his well-known Bihu numbers too. According to various onlookers, people enjoyed his folk-fusion music more than anything since it has a certain vibe to it which is rarely seen these days. This Rockstar’s mesmerizing performance completely swayed every single person present at the event including Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and all the Senior Union Cabinet Ministers. A number of foreign delegates who were present at the event also enjoyed Papon’s performance which was clearly evident from their visible excitement. IFFI Goa later, through their official Twitter handle tweeted,” Singer @paponmusic set the stage on fire with his folk-fusion music at #IFFI2017 Closing Ceremony.”

Papon is widely acclaimed for the beauty with which he gives all his songs a slight touch of folk and the ease with which he gets such notable variations in his voice. At the event, he also engaged with the crowd and explained the meaning of his Bihu songs to develop a feeling of knowingness and make it easier for them to relate to what he was saying. He also said that he wants to promote folk music among today’s youth as India has such a rich cultural diversity that it needs to be passed down to as many generations to come as possible.

Papon is definitely one artist who believes in retaining originality and our rich cultural heritage instead of following stereotypes and incorporating new music that appeals to the masses, just for the sake of it. All we really need right now is more such artists!

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Papon and The East India Company

As a singer, your only instrument is your vocals, which you will only want to accentuate as much as possible. This is why it is extremely important that when you are performing or recording music, you work with good musicians or artists who are going to accompany your vocals with their musical instruments at the same level and highlight your voice to its fullest potential. A ‘good band’ doesn’t just mean that it is technically experienced or advanced, obviously that is important, but the most important factor is the compatibility between various band members and how they work together as one.

One such band that has gone down to become an absolute favourite among people in a mere span of few years is ‘Papon and The East India Company’. It is an electric folk-fusion band from New Delhi, which was formed by the singer himself in 2007. The band, now based out of Mumbai, comprises of Papon (vocals, guitars), Jeenti (guitars), Brin (live electronica), Aakash (bass), Kirti (World percussions), Birinchi (keys) and, Tanmay (drums). The band has performed at many major festivals such as NH7 Weekender, Oktoberfest in Bangalore, Eastwind festival, SAARC music festival in New Delhi, MAD fest Ooty, Storm Fest, Windsong Goa, etc. They have also performed on an international level with Sutasi in Singapore. The band is a much-appreciated live act together the gig circuit in the country today.

Papon and the East India Company also performed at the du World Music Festival in Dubai recently. The festival also saw performances by other prominent artists from across the world such as Italian singer-song writer Andrea Bocelli, Australian Jazz Fusion Guitarist Frank Gambale, GRAMMY Winner Natalia Cole, famous American rock band Guns & Roses and also Indian bands as Raghu Dixit, Soulmate etc. In January 2014, the band gave three live performances at the prestigious Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Scotland. The very same year in July, Papon and the EIC also toured the United States and performed 2 gigs in New Jersey and 1 gig in San Francisco. Other than these, during October- November 2014, the band toured Europe performing three shows in the Netherlands, followed by a performance at the prestigious Dom Omladine in Belgrade, Serbia.

Today, the band is only getting better at what they do with each passing day and has managed to develop a loyal fanbase throughout India as well as abroad. Papon, as the creator of the band, hopes that they continue to win people’s hearts with their unique music and undying team spirit. He also wishes to take the band at many more places in the world to perform as well as learn new things from different artists they encounter during these gatherings. The band is all for music so it wishes to experiment and come up with new sounds that appeal to the present- day audiences.

We hope that the band keeps rocking and conquering us like it always has. To many more amazing performances and achievements of ‘Papon and The East India Company’, signing off as of now!

[letspapon-blog]

MTV Roadies (Season 10) Theme Song by Papon

Today, reality TV shows have become a vital source of our entertainment after the never-ending era of daily soaps. They have played a very important role in making celebrities out of ordinary people. Audiences were introduced to a host of hidden talents that they never thought existed in the country. We see real people performing daredevil stunts or showcasing their skills. Viewers come to know about them and appreciate their performance. In addition, reality TV stars become very popular within a very short period of time. They do not need any Godfather to become successful in the show biz but use their talent to achieve success.

One of the biggest positive effects of reality TV shows is that they address numerous social issues and introduce people to the ills plaguing the society. For instance, they have played a very important role in enhancing women empowerment in society. With active discussion on various television forums, reality shows have made people more aware of what is happening in their vicinity.

One of the most popular youth-based reality shows today is MTV Roadies. Ever since its inception, this show has been soaring on the popularity charts. It first aired in 2003. In the show, a group of contestants travel to different destinations and participate in various tasks that challenge their physical and mental strength. During the course of the journey, there are vote outs, vote ins, eliminations and game changing twists. Eventually the contestant who manages to survive vote outs and succeed in the final task is chosen as the winner. The show has enjoyed relative success among the youth and with a 16-year history, it is one of India's longest running shows.

In 2013, the 10th season of MTV Roadies came out. The season’s theme song was sung by none other than the super talented and extremely versatile- Angaraag Mahanta, commonly known as Papon. The singer who stole the hearts of millions with his voice in ‘Jiyein Kyun’- the song that got him recognition in Bollywood, had now created a rage with Jajabor, the theme song for MTV Hero Roadies X, so much so that the song managed to get 56,000 plus hits on YouTube within a short span of 6 days and the number only seemed to be multiplying with every passing day.

Jajabor is an Assamese word for ‘yayavar - a Traveller’, a person who travels through new destinations by creating new roads where none exist. The song is about being free from mental boundaries and stale thinking, striding with confidence towards a new destiny. Papon’s voice in the song is charming as ever and he manages to capture people’s hearts with as much ease. He has proved time and again that his versatility is beyond comparison.

We are absolutely in awe of the singer and love every single composition of his, how about you’ll?

[letspapon-blog]

Orey Neel Doriya- Papon

When someone who is unfamiliar with the genre, hears the term “classical music,” what usually comes to mind is any purely instrumental music written before the 1950s. What other terms typically come to mind? Today, young peoples’ connotation of classical music is something along the lines of “old fashioned”, “irrelevant”. However, a lot of artists and musical platforms are aiming towards persuading the general public, specifically young adults, that “classical music” is not irrelevant, and it still matters because it has the ability to add aesthetic and emotional value to the human experience.

One such international manifesto of cultural exchange, originating from Bangladesh is Gaanbangla’s ‘Wind of Change’. It is currently the most diverse musical fusion platform in the World! It brings talented musicians from across the globe collectively on one stage to create musical masterpieces. This noble concept symbolizes that the world is one through the sync of soul and achieving universal peace is not just a cliché.

Papon has been associated with the music show for a long time now and the creators recently launched its 5th season. He has sung a number of songs in the show even in the past few seasons. After winning the audience’s hearts with his first song ‘Orey Neel Doriya’ for the 1st episode of season 5, his second song ‘Aaj Ei Bristir Kanna Dekhey’ released recently and both the songs took his Bangladeshi fanbase by storm. The first song managed to get a lot of praises from artists and audiences all over the world. It starts with a beautiful instrumental tune by other prominent artists playing alongside Papon and has got a classical feel to it. This song has added another feather to Papon’s hat of achievements.

Papon recently tweeted from his official Twitter handle, “Okay here it is! My first song of the first episode!” As soon as the tweet came out, fans went gaga over his magical voice in the YouTube video shared alongside in the tweet. The video has managed to get over 1,00,000 views in a mere span of 2 days. According to various reviews posted by a number of people, not just in Bangladesh but India too, the song manages to capture one’s soul due to Papon’s flawless voice and the simplicity with which he carries out such complicated classical transitions.

Papon has been known to spread positivity everywhere he goes and is believed to be one of the most affectionate people in the Indian film industry by his friends and acquaintances. He spreads love everywhere he goes. In a recent interview, he said that it was an absolute pleasure working in collaboration with such prominent artists from all over the globe and that he has learned a thing or two from each one of them. He hopes that life keeps blessing him with many more such opportunities so that he can take Indian folk music at an international platform and spread its beauty across cultures.

We absolutely love Papon’s spirit and hope that he keeps making our country proud at many more such events in the future. He has gone down to become one of our favourite artists in the industry, how about you’ll?

[letspapon-blog]

5 Inspiring Facts about Papon

Angaraag Mahanta, more commonly known as ‘Papon’ is a multi-faceted talent. A singer, composer and producer who can play a number of instruments, this artist from Assam shot to fame when one of MTV's most famous musical series ‘Coke Studio' came calling, and when he gave India its new hit track of all-time ‘Jiyein Kyun' for the movie ‘Dum Maaro Dum'. The new-age star of the Assamese folk-fusion scene now keeps shuffling between independent music and a Bollywood career where he has had many hits such as ‘Moh Moh Ke Dhaage', ‘Kaun Mera', and ‘Kyon'. But his success hasn't been something as easy as a cakewalk. It took complete determination, hard work and most importantly- an undying passion- to become one of the most sought-after voices in India. Let us look at a few inspiring facts about Papon that truly prove that he is a music legend in the making.

·         He experiments and sings versatile songs

Though rooted in folk and classical Indian music, the singer-composer’s repertoire includes many other genres such as rock, jazz and folktronica beside regular Bollywood music. Apart from Assamese, he has also sung in a variety of other languages such as Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, Bengali and Mishing.

·         He can do more than just singing

It isn’t just the singer’s soulful voice that captivates listeners, but also the magic he creates while simply interacting with the crowd or playing different instruments including the table, guitar, khol and harmonium. He absolutely loves experimenting with different sounds and it is more than visible in his compositions.

·         He has his own band

In 2007, Papon started his own electronica folk fusion band named ‘Papon and the East India Company’. They have performed at various music festivals across India. Other than the lead singer himself, the band includes a guitarist, a bassist, a drummer, a keyboardist and a world percussionist. The band has performed live at many events both- within the country as well as outside of it on international platforms.

·         He can act as well

In 2014, Papon made his acting debut with the Assamese film ‘Rodor Sithi’, directed by highly acclaimed theatre artist- Baarul Islam. In an interview once, the singer had said that facing the camera was always his first choice as he is greatly fascinated by the idea of playing a completely different person on-screen.

·         He is all for new music

Papon does not believe in the idea of genres since there is so much overlapping happening these days. He has also been a constant part of MTV’s Coke Studio which happens to be an Indian music television series that combines myriad musical influences from Carnatic, Hindustani and Indian folk to contemporary rock, hip hop and pop music.

Apart from all these things, Papon is an amazing human being and has been associated with a number of social causes such as the Assam River Dolphin Conservation Project, Mission Smile and Assam Flood Relief. We surely love Papon for the extremely humble and down-to-earth person he is, how about you?

[letspapon-blog]

Aaj Ei Bristir Kanna Dekhey- Papon

In a society focused on the latest technology, dance crazes, and what is trending on social media, it is easily understood why so many believe the art of classical music is in many ways irrelevant. However, with more music being produced in today’s era than ever before, and with many artists drawing inspiration from classical pieces, this old art form is long from dead. Over the centuries, classical music has transformed itself to become a building block, setting the framework for musicians of all types today.

Though the roots of music are important, classical music’s reach extends farther than just a single phase in music's evolution. In fact, many popular artists in today's music industry have a close relationship with classical music. A large portion of today's musicians grew up playing some sort of classical instrument such as the guitar, piano or violin because reading music is such a transferable skill in the music industry. The relationship between modern and classical music is rightly shown in many artist's works today since they have either used or adapted it. One such artist who is loved at an international level for the fusions he creates in his music and his strong folk classical background is none other than our beloved Papon.

Papon has been associated with the Bangladeshi music show ‘Wind of Change’ for a long time now and the show recently launched its 5th season. Papon has sung a number of songs in the show even in the past few seasons. After winning the audience’s hearts with his first song ‘Orey Neel Doriya’ for the 1st episode of season 5, his second song ‘Aaj Ei Bristir Kanna Dekhey’ released recently and took his Bangladeshi fanbase by storm. The song starts with a beautiful instrumental tune by other prominent artists playing alongside Papon and has got a classical feel to it. This song has added another feather to Papon’s hat of achievements.

Papon recently tweeted from his official Twitter handle, “Here is my second song from Wind of Change season 5. Singing with magicians all around! Marco Minnimen’s entry into the song, Anton’s Bass, Arshad Bhai’s Esraj, Bapi Da’s subtle touch and Taposh you are a dreamer!!” As soon as the tweet came out, fans went gaga over his magical voice in the YouTube video shared. The video managed to get over 42,000 views in a mere span of 12 hours. According to various reviews posted by a number of people, not just in Bangladesh but India too, the song manages to capture one’s soul due to Papon’s flawless voice and the simplicity with which he carries out such complicated classical transitions.

We aren’t surprised with the song’s success even one bit, any guesses why? It is Papon after all! It wouldn’t be wrong to say that he was born to rule people’s hearts. We eagerly await the release of his songs every single time, irrespective of the language he sings them in. How about you?

[letspapon-blog]

Papon's Pays Tribute to the Brahmaputra River

Assam, which is one of the biggest states in the north-eastern part of India has an undying spirit- be it heavy rainfall or the floods that follow- the people of Assam never let any such barriers come in their way when it comes to celebrating their culture, which happens to be their pride. One such example was when the state had recently faced extremely heavy rainfall but even that couldn’t dampen the people’s spirit of celebrating the ‘Namami Brahmaputra River Festival’ which is the biggest river festival of India.

In 2017, the well-known Assamese and Bollywood singer- Papon composed an anthem for the debut edition of Namami Brahmaputra- which is also being touted as the best song ever made for a river festival. The song has been sung by a number of celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Vishal-Shekhar and Arijit Singh. Papon had also invited Amitabh Ji to visit Assam. In a tweet, he wrote," Humbled by your gestures my lovely music fraternity and Amitabh Ji. Please come to Assam soon. Forever grateful!" The five-day long festival celebrates Assam’s rich culture, art, and heritage. ‘Namami Brahmaputra’ was released by Assam’s chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal in Guwahati that year itself.

Papon, who has made a place for himself in Bollywood with his heart-touching tracks such as ‘Kyun’, ‘Jiyein Kyun’, ‘Kaun Mera’ and ‘Zindagi Aisi Waisi’, in an interview, said that he specifically wanted the song to have a quintessential flavour of Assam. He said in a statement,” Like the mighty and grand Brahmaputra, I wanted the song to reflect those qualities. Consciously, I also wanted to showcase the Vaishnavite classical music system and used ‘bol’ using the khol (drum-like instrument made of terracotta, usually played to accompany devotional music)”.

More interestingly, it was Papon’s idea to involve Bollywood celebrities in the initiative. He said that the Government of Assam had asked him to compose the theme song for the festival that celebrates the Brahmaputra and since the very objective of the festival was to showcase Assam, he felt that if the song was sung by singers from all over the country, it would have a far wider reach. Papon later also made an Assamese version of the river song in which he worked with a generation of singers right from his own mother Archana Mahanta to Rupam Bhuyam who was the youngest singer of the lot.

Papon's love for Assam and his people has been reflected in his compositions time and again. Even today, after receiving an immense amount of success and appreciation for his work in Bollywood, he hasn't left Assam. He makes it a point that he performs in Assam at least once a month along with his band, or simply visits his hometown there. His simplicity and love for his region is truly breath-taking. We surely need to learn a thing or two from him!